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Iowa Lawmakers Approve Redistricting Plan

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The Iowa House and Senate approved a bill this morning that accepts the first set of proposed redistricting maps for the state.

This bill comes about just once a decade after the U.S. Census Bureau counts the population of all 50 states.

As previously reported, the draft was completed by the Legislative Service Agency and splits the northeast corner of Marion County, including Pella, into a different district than the rest of the county. Senator Paul McKinley says he feels Iowa has the most fair redistricting system in the country as it prepared by a nonpartisan agency.

As a result of the general assembly approved maps Representative Jim Van Engelenhoven of Pella and Representative Guy Vander Linden of Oskaloosa, both Republicans, will face each other in a primary race in 2012 if they both choose to run for District 79. Knoxville and the remainder of the county would be represented by Republican Richard Arnold of Lucas County if he is re-elected.

In the Senate, Paul McKinley would continue to represent the majority of the county though Pella would be part of District 40 which currently has no incumbent.